Tips For De-Icing At Your Home And/Or Business In Tewksbury

Press release from the Town of Tewksbury:

December 15, 2020

As the weather gets colder, salt on our roadways, walkways, and driveways helps keep us safe but once the salt is washed off it can make its way into nearby wetlands, streams, rivers and groundwater. The salt raises the salinity in soil and water, which makes it harder for plants to absorb nutrients. The salinity also causes great stress on freshwater wildlife. Over time the salt makes its way into our rivers and wells in turn affecting our drinking water supply.

Here are some salt alternatives to consider for your home or business:

• Sand – Mixed with salt to reduce the amount of salt or used by itself for traction
• Ashes – Absorbs moisture before it freezes and increases traction
• Kitty Litter – Absorbs moisture before it freezes and increases traction
• Coffee Grounds – Natural acidity melts ice and increases traction
• Pickle Brine – Lower salt content than road salt but acidity also aids in melting ice
• Sugar Beet Juice – Lowers the melting point of ice

Tips for Snow Removal and Salt/Sand Contractors:

• Calibrate equipment according to manufactures specification
• Buy equipment that can deliver very low rates of granular products.
• Outfit trucks with ground speed controls so that the application rate changes automatically as the speed changes.
• Inform your clients about salt alternatives or blends
• When cleaning excess salt off of roadway equipment make sure that the wash-water is controlled and does not flow to sensitive areas such as wetlands and waterways.
• Covered or indoor storage of salt/sand is recommended.
• Store on an impervious (waterproof) surface.
• Floor should be sloped away from the door or entrance.
• Sweep loading areas back into the pile.
• Store salt and sand away from grated catchbasins, rivers, ditches, and wetlands

For more information visit the Town of Tewksbury’s Stormwater Website: www.tewksbury-ma.gov/stormwater

If you have any questions you can contact Arthur Markos at [email protected] or 978-640-4440 ext. 237

This press release was produced by the Town of Tewksbury. The views expressed here are the author’s own.